Don’t Get “Nailed”

during 100 days of Summer Heat

Sobriety Checkpoints set for July 24-26

The phrase, “I just got nailed by the cops,” is taking on a whole new meaning for Tennesseans. Beginning July 1, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office launched “100 Days of Summer Heat” and unveiled a new “Drive Drunk, Get Nailed” message.

Local authorities will be increasing enforcement efforts during this time and officers of the Brownsville Police Department and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department will be teaming up to insure the safety of the citizens of Brownsville and Haywood County.

Joint enforcement activities in Haywood County will begin on Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m., and end Sunday July 26, at 2 a.m. Activities will include Sobriety Checkpoints, and DUI Saturations. Officers will concentrate their enforcement efforts on removing impaired drivers from the roadways. However as non-compliance with the safety belt and child restraint laws place people in danger, these laws will be vigorously enforced as well.

“Impaired driving will not be tolerated on the roadways of Brownsville and Haywood County,” said Brownsville Police Officer Barry Diebold. “If you are driving aggressively, impaired, or without a safety belt, you will get ‘nailed.’”

This program is funded by a traffic enforcement grant from the Governors’ Highway Safety Office (GHSO). “There is never a good reason for getting behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Unfortunately, many people are still not getting the message, so we hope this new campaign will draw attention to the problem of drunk driving in Tennessee.”

Vehicles with 10-foot nails driven through the hoods have appeared in high visibility locations across the state since June 22 in an effort to spread the word. “Our goal is to generate buzz in Tennessee communities with this campaign, and continue to save lives,” said GHSO Director Kendall Poole. “Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for every age group in the United States, and it is particularly disturbing that most of these crashes are preventable.”

Drivers are reminded that texting and driving is now against the law in Tennessee, and this form of distracted driving will also not be tolerated.